Upheavals and recovery

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=~=~=~=Location: Inside the Samurai - Heavily modified Pellaeon-class Imperial Star Destroyer, currently traversing Infinity

~==~==~Dramatis Personae:

Bridge Crew:

Commanding Officer : My self

Executive Officer : Hannibal Lecter, MD

Weapons Officer : Teletha Testarossa

Launch Officer : Lisa Hayes

Tactics Officer : Lacus Clyne

  CIC (Combat Information Center)

CO: [peruses the clipboard held at the left hand] You've seen the changes in the Roster, Ms. Hayes?

LO: [taps the holograms in front of her] Command of the Attack mobile suit squad has been handed to newly-commissioned Liutenant Drizzt Do'urden as per your orders and will sortie in the modified 00 Gundam christened "Dawnbringer" and it's supporting mobile armor 0 raiser will be slaved to the 00 Gundam's controls.

TO: Lady Pendragon has been removed from the post?

XO: Our captain has decided that since Ms. Pendragon has no mobile suit that will fully complement her capabilities, it would be best if we were to replace her with someone who has a mobile suit that does.

CO: [shrugs] Besides, she's a competent swordswoman. She's still one of ours. She'll be using the available time teaching weapon-based martial arts to those who're interested of those who're in the units that use melee weapons.

LO: There's also the fact that we've had to severe our relations with our pecuniary supplier [pecks at the holograms in irritation]. They're the stupidest bunch of morons that I've ever met [fumes]! They knew that the Samurai brings more than its fair share of kills but they still thought badly of it because we do better than they did. Now, we're almost dead in the water thanks to those envious Neanderthals! 

TO: [taps at her own holograms] Such an event has placed the Samurai at dangerous levels of dependency. We've need to find another pecuniary source within the week if we hope to continue as we are. Putting most of our crew into stasis chambers has helped but we can't do that for long.

WO: [plays with her braid while she picks through her own displays] We can maintain our functional status for another week before we have to put 80% of the Samurai's systems into hibernation. [frowns in concentration] We do expect some resources in the form of the severance package from them, but Lecter-sensei advised that it would be wise not to depend on such.

CO: [looks on at bemused contemplation] Truth be told, if it weren't excessive, I'd have pointed our positron cannons at those dirt-bags. One less problem for the universe to handle, is what I think.

 XO: [puts a hand over my left shoulder] We're capable and others recognize our ability. We've much to face, but we've our resources to meet adversity. [looks toward the stars outside the Samurai] Talga vassternich, was it not, Captain?

CO: [exhales in quiet determination] Yes, those were the words that I've chosen to live by.

Running, strolling, ambulating...

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 I don't exactly recall, but I think I was en-route to have my cell-phone repaired when I passed by the hospital housing the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department I was associated with. The thing about that department is that one side of it faces the highway. Shuttered windows embedded in concrete walls greeted my eyes as the bus I rode on passed by.

 Memory supplied me with the "what-could-be"; the patients, my senior colleagues, the equipment used for treatment and the treatment cubicles.

 Imagination rained questions upon me: What happened to the patients I treated? Who're the staff taking care of those patients? Have my patients' physical and emotional conditions improved?

 Tears clamored to spring from my eyes. Tears caused by the enforced separation from the profession that brings me in contact with all the colors of Life roar for expression as I write this.

 Part of my mind is impatience given form. I want all that I desire, NOW. I want to earn my keep. I want to practice my profession. I want to teach about my profession. I want money to purchase the items I desire but not need.

 That I cannot be at the place my heart yearns for saddens me greatly. True, some of my colleagues are people I'd rather neutralize than keep. Logic dictates that they be considered only during threat assessment because I am at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department because I love doing my job there as a Physical Therapist. Even as those hominids playacting as licensed therapists annoy me with their pretentiousness and arrogance, my love for my calling makes me stay when I would've left.

 So, I continue upon this path I chose.

 In freedom, I act as I see fit, constrained only by resources and not by the whim or will of others.

 Towards destiny, I keep my eyes upon my goals, even as tears blur my sight, because it is this journey that defines me as I realize my dreams.

 At times, I will falter.

 At times, I will weep in despair.

 Always will I keep those dearest to me close and cherished.

 Always will I wield Freedom and Destiny as I chart the course of the Samurai in the endlessness of Infinity.

Menagerie of thoughts

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A lot has happened. [shrugs] Then again, that's a given with almost everybody that's alive. Sure, there are those that go around and try to ruin other people's lives and then go around claiming that they're living. Talk about walking contradictions [shakes heads]. I've got a co-worker that tried to nail me when I used a Nihonggo suffix in a work area to address our supervisor while she's the one that (almost always) uses the vernacular (or pidgin English, which is way worse in my opinion) whenever she's not on the phone talking. I've got at least two superiors who think that their rank is clout and reason enough to look down on me, act idiotically and STILL demand my respect [shakes head]. C'est la vie. That I've other superiors that act (almost always) rationally takes the edge out of the annoyances that I've to deal with. Add the fact that I enjoy interacting with the people I serve for AT&T and I can (and do say) that I've a great deal to be thankful for.

~~~

 Yes, I'm still working for AT&T to earn my daily bread and all that. I'm almost squared away, debt-wise. I still have to restart my volunteer gig at the Rehabilitation Center that I'm associated with because of all the monetary juggling I have to do since I'm fending for myself with nobody else to rely on (except dear close friends who're able to give succor once in a while or when circumstances permit). Daily nutrition, expendable dry goods, laundry, rent, necessities and the random item for upkeep that pops up are what composes the things I MUST spend on. No, I haven't included the model kits and action figures that I want to buy and those are the items I've put in the back burner because of my lifestyle change. The only good thing about it is that they're at least ON an EXISTING list, unlike ... Well [shrugs], unlike before.

~~~

So, I'm pissed at the Yamato toy company because the 1/60 action figure of the VF-1S Valkyrie developed cracks at BOTH of the Battloid/Guardian's thighs (that's for left and right lower extremities). I could probably say that it was caused by cheap plastic or that the action figure was actually smuggled or bootleg and not mind -IF- I didn't pay seven grand for that item. Their American website says that: "Please note before contacting Yamato USA that Yamato's Macross items are only available in Japan. We at Yamato USA, as well as Yamato itself, are unable to sell or service any Macross items sold outside of Japan. We thank you for your understanding." That, ladies and gentlemen, simply means I -WASTED- no less than seven grand on plastic [shakes head in aggravation]. I guess I'll avoid purchasing Yamato products just because they're so expensive for my budget. I've put the 1/100MG Infinite Justice Gundam model kit on my list, among other things and that should keep me busy. I'm also considering getting one of the Duel Maids. I'll definitely get my hands on Max Factory's figma action figure of Miku Hatsune because she's so darned cute [smiles and giggles].

~~~

I've changed portions of the Mobile Unit Roster in the Samurai. I've decided to expand the Defense Mobile Unit and have included the Sazabi, Heavy Arms Custom and Shiranui Akatsuki Mobile Suits as command/specialist units. I've replaced the Strike Gundams in the Attack Mobile Unit with Impulse Gundams because it retains the adaptability of the Strike Gundams (change the Silhouette pack and you can have the Mobile Suit do something different) AND obtains the ability to replace Suit parts in the middle of combat. As I've yet to finalize the choice of what will be the grunt Mobile Unit of the Defense Mobile Unit, I'm sticking with the MS-14S Gelgoog. There's also the question of what Valkyrie class I'll use as the components of my Variable Fighter Squadrons but I can deal with that by putting up the stored mental images of the VF-1S in a seperate hangar while I delay on the decision. I've included Kathryn Odoriko in the Samurai's Personnel and I think I'll put her in the Defense Mobile Unit. And just because it's so damned striking, I'm putting Kitano Seiichirou of Angel Densetsu in charge of the Samurai's extensive Medical and Surgical bay [grins].